The six vessels in the exercises are assigned to Standing NATO
Maritime Group Two (SNMG2), which is headed by US Rear Admiral
Brad Williamson.

SNMG2 currently consists of flagship US cruiser guided missile,
the USS Vicksburg, as well as Canada’s HMCS Fredericton, Turkey’s
TCG Turgutreis, FGS Spessart of Germany, Italian frigate ITS
Aliseo and ROS Regina Maria of the US.

“The training and exercises we will conduct with our Allies
in the Black Sea prepares us to undertake any mission NATO might
require to meet its obligations for collective defense,”
Williamson is cited as saying by the MARCOM’s website.

“We are here at the invitation of the Turkish, Bulgarian and
Romanian governments and look forward to enhancing our
interoperability with their navies,” the Rear Admiral added.

The drill will include simulated anti-air and anti-submarine
warfare exercises, simulated small boat attacks and basic ship
handling maneuvers.

The deployment of NATO vessels in the Black Sea is a scheduled
visit, conducted “in full compliance with international
conventions,” MARCOM stressed.

The group is expected to leave the Black Sea and make its way
back to the Mediterranean later in March, it added.

"NATO regularly deploys ships to the Black Sea for maritime
awareness and training. This scheduled deployment, given Russia's
continued assertiveness, carries an additional message of
reassurance to allies in the region," a NATO official told
Reuters.

Previously, Russia’s envoy to NATO, Aleksandr Grushko, said
Moscow will take “necessary countermeasures” in response
to the Alliance’s increased presence in the Black Sea, which
washes the shores of Russia, Ukraine, Turkey and several other
countries.

NATO sent additional ships to the Black Sea after Russia’s
reunification with the Republic of Crimea in March last year and
the beginning of military conflict in April same year.

The USS Vella Gulf, USS Ross, USS Truxton, and USS Taylor – as
well as warships from other NATO member states – were spotted in
the area.

In July 2014, NATO deployed a total of nine vessels to the Back
Sea, setting a record in the post-Soviet period.

Despite the Montreux Convention of 1936 allowing warships of
non-Black Sea states to stay in the area for no more than 21
days, the alliance has managed to secure its presence by
constantly rotating vessels.